Package assembly



Dec. 27, 1966- P. HOLLINGER 3,294,233

PACKAGE AS SEMBLY Filed Oct. 22, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 i \g-z IN VENTOR Paul. HOLLlNGE-R ATTORNEY S Dec. 27, 1966 p, HOLLINGER 3,294,233

PAUL. HOLLINGEIZ BY m asmfgwm u id ATTORN EYS Dec. 27, 1966 P. HOLLING ER 3,294,233

PACKAGE AS SEMBLY Filed Oct. 22, 1965 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR PAUL HoLuNselz.

miidmfiwm ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,294,233 PACKAGE ASSEMBLY Paul Hollinger, Pikesville, Md., assignor to Noxzerna Chemical Company, Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryland Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 502,233 14 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) This invention relates to a package assembly and more particularly to a package assembly for carton units having a display card or panel attached to a carton containing an article.

In the merchandising of many small articles such as cosmetics and the like, it has been found that retail sales of such articles can be stimulated and increased significcantly by providing the cartons containing such articles with display cards or panels which are attached to the cartons. This permits the retailer to place such carton units in display cases and windows, and on counters and shelves in View of potential purchasing customers. Such carton units having an attractive display card have been found to be greatly eifective in promoting sales of the articles.

Generally, such carton units comprise a rectangular shaped display card or panel having the carton containing the article attached to one of the faces of the carton. The carton usually is smaller in size than the display card, which provides a unit having an irregular configuration which is comparatively diflicult to package for distribution. It, therefore, has been desirable to design a package assembly which is suitable for grouping together a plurality of such carton units for distribution purposes.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of this invention to provide a novel packaging assembly.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel package assembly for a plurality of carton units, to facilitate distribution of the units.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel package assembly for carton units, having an irregular configuration.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel package assembly for carton units including a display card or panel and a carton containing an article which is attached to the display card.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel package assembly for a plurality of carton units, each having an irregular configuration, which is compact.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel package assembly for carton units including a display card or panel and a carton containing an article attached to the display card, which is compact.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel package assembly for carton units, having an irregular configuration which includes a novel package subassembly of the carton units.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel package subassembly for carton units, having an irregular configuration, which is adapted to be incorporated in a larger package assembly.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel connector member for connecting a plurality of carton units, having an irregular configuration.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those persons skilled in the art, from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention in the assembled form;

FIGURE 2 is a blank from which a carton unit incorporated in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1, is formed;

3,294,233 Patented Dec. 27, 1966 in FIGURE 2, illustrating a sequence of the forming of the carton unit;

FIGURE 4 is a carton unit formed from the blank shown in FIGURE 2, illustrating the carton portion thereof open for receiving an article;

FIGURE 5 is a connector member which is adapted to be utilized in grouping together a plurality of carton units illustrated in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a plurality of carton units illustrated in FIGURE 4, showing the manner in which the connector member as illustrated in FIGURE 5, is applied to the carton units;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a package subassembly formed from a plurality of carton units, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, connected together by a connector member as illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is an exploded view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 99 in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 in FIGURE 1.

Briefly described, the present invention relates to a package assembly generally comprising at least two subassemblies nested together, each of the subassemblies comprising at least two carton units nested together, each of the carton units including a main panel and a carton secured to the back side thereof, the cartons having slits in the upper and lower portions thereof adjacent the main panel, the cartons being disposed in side by side relation with the main panels in overlapping relation and a connector member including a first panel overlying the front sides of the overlapping main panels of the carton units, tuck flaps hingedly connected to the first connector panel received within the slits in the lower portions of the cartons, a second panel hingedly connected to the upper portion of the first connector panel overlying the back sides of the overlapping main panels of the carton units and the second connector panel having tuck flaps inserted into the slits in the upper portions of the cartons, the second connector panel of one subassembly being disposed in overlying relation relative to the back portions of the cartons of the other nested subassembly and means for holding the subassemblies in nested relation.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated an embodiment of the invention. FIGURE 1 illustrates the embodiment in the assembled form. The assembly gen- .erally includes a pair of subassemblies 20 and 21 which are held together in nested relation by means of a sleeve member 22. Each of the subassemblies 20 and 21 is formed from a plurality of carton units 23 which are connected together by means of a connector member.

FIGURE 2 illustrates a blank from which a carton unit 23 is formed. The blank includes a rectangularly shaped display or main panel 25, having upper and lower edges 26 and 27 and side edges 28 and 29. Projecting outwardly from the side edge 28 of the display panel and coplanar with the display panel is a blank portion 30, from which a carton 31 is formed. The blank portion 30 includes fold lines 32, 33, 34 and 35 to provide a side wall 37, a rear wall 38, a side wall 39 and a glue flap 40 which forms the sides of the carton 31. The blank portion also includes fold lines 41, 42, 43 and 44, and cut lines 45, 46, 47 and 48, to provide upper closure flaps 49, 50 and 51, having a tuck flap 52, and lower closure flaps 53, 54 and 55, having a tuck flap 56. In addition, the carton blank is formed with parallel cut lines 57 and 58 which extend from the fold lines 33 across fold line 32 and into the main panel 25.

As best illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, the carton unit 23 is formed by first folding the carton blank along fold line 32, so that the side wall 37 and the wall 59 are perpendicular to the main panel 25, and the wall 60 is parallel to the main panel 25. The blank then is folded along fold lines 33, 34 and 35, so that the rear wall 38 engages the wall 60, the side wall 39 is disposed perpendicular to the main panel 25, and the glue flap 40 engages and is adhesively secured to the back side of the main panel 25. The closure flaps then are folded along their fold lines so that the tuck flaps 52 and 56 are disposed in overlapping relation with the back side 61 of the main panel 25 to provide upper and lower openings or slits 62 and 63 in the carton.

Prior to closing the upper closure flaps 49, 50 and 51, an article such as a lipstick refill article 64 is placed in the carton 31 so that it will be supported by the bottom closure flaps and maintained in position by the wall members 59 and 60. In such position, the article will be exposed to the front side of the main panel 25. As best shown in FIGURES 4 and 6, it will be noted that the carton member 31 is formed on the lower corner of the main panel 25.

In forming one of the subassemblies to be nested together to form the packaging assembly, a plurality of carton units 23 are nested together, as illustrated in FIGURE 6, so that the side walls of the connector members are disposed in side by side relation and the main panels 25 are disposed in overlapping relation. In such relationship, the overlapping main panels 25 form a substantially planar object having a rectangular configuration, the slits 62 are substantially in alignment, and the slits 63 also are substantially in alignment. The plurality of carton units in such a relationship are connected together by means of a connecting member 65.

The connecting member 65 generally includes a front rectangular panel 66, having dimensions substantially the same as the assembled main panels when the carton units,

are nested together, as shown in FIGURE 6, and a rectangular shaped back panel 67 hingedly connected to the connector panel 66 along a fold line 68. The lower edge 69 of the connector panel 66 is provided with a plurality of downwardly projecting hingedly connected tuck flaps 70, which are adapted to be inserted in the slits 63 in the carton units when the connector member is connected to the carton units. In addition, the upper edge 71 of the connector panel 67 is formed with coplanar tuck flaps 72, which are adapted to be inserted in the aligned slits 62 when the connector member is connecting the carton units together.

The connector member 65 is applied to a nested group of carton members 23 by first inserting the tuck flaps 70 into the aligned slits 63 of the cartons 31, folding the connector panel 65 against the front sides of the main panels 25, folding the connector panel 67 down over the upper aligned edges of the main panels 25, and inserting the tuck flaps 72 into the aligned slits 6-2 in the carton member 31. With the connector in such a position, the carton units 23 are maintained in nested relation.

To form the final assembly as illustrated in FIGURE 1, a pair of subassemblies 21 and 22 are nested together in the manner as illustrated in FIGURE 8, whereby the connector panel 67 of the connector member of the subassembly 21 engages the aligned rear walls 38 of the carton members of the subassembly 22, the upper closure flaps 51 of the carton members of the subassembly 21 engage the upper flaps of the cartons of the subassembly 22, and the rear walls 38 of the carton members of the subassembly 21 engage the connector panel 67 of the connector member of subassembly 22. With the subassemblies 21 and 22 in such nested relation, they are held together by means of a sleeve member 73. The sleeve member 73 includes a pair of side walls 74 and 75 which overlie the connector panels 66 of the connector members of the subassemblies 21 and 22, and end walls 76 and 77.

Preferably, the height of each carton member is one half the height of the main panel 25, so that the upper closure flaps 51 engage when the subassemblies 21 and 22 are nested together in the manner described. In addition, the width of the connector panel member 67 is the same as the height of the carton unit 31, so that the connector panel 67 can easily be folded over the upper edges of the main panels 25 of the carton units, and the tuck flaps 72 easily inserted in the aligned slits 62. The positions of the tuck flaps 70 and '72 are adapted to register with the aligned slits 62 and 63, respectively, in the carton members when the carton units are nested together in the manner as illustrated in FIGURE 6 of the drawings. Normally, the main panel 25 is provided with advertising on the front side thereof so that each of the carton units when removed from the package assembly can be placed in display cases and Windows and on counters and shelves, in view of potential purchasing customers.

The connector member 65 permits a group of the carton units to be connected together in nested relation, to form a subassembly which in turn can be nested with another similar subassembly and connected together by means of a sleeve member 73. In shipping the carton units, the subassemblies are intended to be nested together and connected in the form of the assembly illustrated in FIGURE 1. When they arrive at their destination on the retail level, the assemblies may be broken down to subassemblies and eventually to the individual carton units which may be placed on display by the retailer.

Although for the purposes of illustration only three carton members have been shown nested together, it would be possible to nest any number of such units together in the manner as described. In addition, it would be possible to incorporate the same concept as described herein in forming assemblies and subassemblies of the carton units having other irregular configurations within the scope of the invention.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptation and modifications of the present invention which come within the province of those skilled in the art. However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A package assembly comprising at least two carton units nested together, each of said units including a main panel and a carton secured to the back side thereof, said cartons having slits in the upper and lower portions thereof adjacent said main panel, said cartons being disposed in side by side relation with said main panels in overlapping relation and a connector including a first panel overlying the front sides of the overlapping main panels of said car-ton units, tuck flaps hingedly connected to the first connector panel received within the slits in the lower portions of said cartons, a second panel hingedly connected to the upper portion of the first connector panel overlying the back sides of the overlapping main panels of said carton units and the second connector panel having tuck flaps inserted into the slits in the upper portions of said cartons.

2. A package assembly according to claim 1, wherein the carton of each carton unit is spaced from the upper portion and a side portion of the main panel thereof.

3. A package assembly according to claim 1, wherein the main panel of each carton unit is rectangular in shape and the carton is spaced from the upper edge and a side edge of the main panel thereof.

4. A package assembly according to claim 1, wherein the main panel of each carton unit is rectangular in shape, and the carton secured thereto is disposed in a lower corner of the main panel thereof.

5. A package assembly according to claim 1, wherein the main panel of each carton unit is rectangular in shape, the carton thereof is rectangular in shape including said walls, a back wall and top and bottom walls, the top and bottom walls of the carton are provided with said slits adjacent the main panel, the carton is secured to the main panel in the lower corner thereof and the height of the carton is no greater than the height of the adjoining main panel.

6. A package assembly according to claim 1, wherein the main panel of each carton is rectangular in shape, the carton thereof is rectangular in shape including side walls, a back wall and top and bottom walls, the top and bottom walls of the carton are provided with said slits adjacent the main panel, the carton is secured to the main panel in the lower corner thereof, the height of the carton is half of the height of the adjoining main panel and the cartons of the carton units are disposed in side by side engagement whereby adjoining side walls of the cartons are engaged.

7. A package assembly comprising at least two subassemblies nested together, each of said subassemblies comprising at least two carton units nested together, each of said carton units including a main panel and a carton secured to the back side thereof, said cartons having slits in the upper and lower portions thereof adjacent said main panel, said cartons being disposed in side by side relation with said main panels in overlapping relation and a connector including'a first panel overlying the front sides of the overlapping main panels of said carton units, tuck flaps hingedly connected to the first connector panel received within the slits in the lower portions of said cartons, a second panel hingedly connected to the upper portion of the first connector panel overlying the back sides of the overlapping main panels of said carton units and the second connector panel having tuck flaps inserted into the slits in the upper portions of said cartons, the second connector panel of one subassembly being disposed in overlying relation relative to the back portions of the cartons of the other nested subassembly and means for holding said subassemblies in nested relation.

8. A package assembly according to claim 7, wherein the means for holding the subassemblies in nested relation comprises a sleeve member.

9. A package assembly according to claim 7, wherein the upper portions of the cartons of the subassemblies are disposed in opposed relation and the means for holding the subassemblies in nested relation comprises a sleeve member.

10. A package assembly according to claim 7, wherein the main panel of each carton unit is rectangular in shape, the carton thereof is rectangular in shape including side walls, a back wall and top and bottom walls, the top and bottom walls of the carton are provided with the slits adjacent the main panel, the carton is secured to the main panel in the lower corner thereof, the height of the carton is no greater than the height of the adjoining main panel, the top walls of the cartons of each subassembly are disposed in opposed relation and the means for holding the subassemblies in nested relation comprises a sleeve member.

11. A package assembly according to claim 7, wherein the main panel of each carton is rectangular in shape,

the carton thereof is rectangular in shape including side walls, a back wall and top and bottom walls, the top and bottom walls of the carton are provided with the slits adjacent the main panel, the carton is secured to the main 5 panel in the lower corner thereof, the height of the carton is half of the height of the adjoining main panel, the cartons of the carton units of each subassembly are disposed in side by side engagement whereby adjoining walls of the cartons are engaged, the top walls of the cartons of the assemblies are engaged and the means for holding the subassemblies in nested relation comprises a sleeve member having side panels overlying the main connector panels of said subassemblies and adjoining end panels.

12. A connector member for an assembly comprising at least two carton units nested together, each of said units including a main panel and a carton secured to the back side thereof, said cartons having slits in the upper and lower portions thereof adjacent the main panel and the cartons being disposed in side by side relation with said main panels in overlapping relation, comprising a first panel adapted to overlie the front sides of the overlapping main panels of the carton units, tuck flaps hingedly connected to the first connector panel insertable within the slits in the lower portions of said cartons, a second panel hingedly connected to the upper portion of the first connector panel adapted to overlie the back sides of the overlapping main panels of the carton units and the second connector panel having tuck flaps insertable into the slits in the upper portions of the cartons.

13. A connector member according to claim 12, wherein the first panel unit is rectangular in shape having a top and bottom edge, and the second panel member is rectangular in shape and hingedly connected along the upper edge of said first panel member.

14. A connector member according to claim 12, wherein the first panel member is rectangular in shape having upper and lower edges, said tuck flaps insertable within the slits in the lower portions of the cartons being hingedly connected to the lower edge of said first panel, said second panel being rectangular in shape and hingedly connected along the upper edge of said first panel member and said tuck flaps insertable into the slits of the upper portions of the cartons being coplanar with the second panel member and disposed on the free edge thereof opposite the hinged connected between said first and second panel members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

THERON E. CONDON, Examiner.

J. M. CASKIE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PACKAGE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AT LEAST TWO CARTON UNITS NESTED TOGETHER, EACH OF SAID UNITS INCLUDING A MAIN PANEL AND A CARTON SECURED TO THE BACK SIDE THEREOF, SAID CARTONS HAVING SLITS IN THE UPPER AND LOWER PORTIONS THEREOF ADJACENT SAID MAIN PANEL, SAID CARTONS BEING DISPOSED IN SIDE BY SIDE RELATION WITH SAID MAIN PANELS ON OVERLAPPING RELATION AND A CONNECTOR INCLUDING A FIRST PANEL OVERLYING THE FRONT SIDES OF THE OVERLAPPING MAIN PANELS OF SAID CARTON UNITS, TUCK FLAPS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE FIRST CONNECTOR PANEL RECEIVED WITHIN THE SLITS IN THE LOWER PORTIONS OF SAID CARTONS, A SECOND PANEL HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE UPPER PORTION OF THE FIRST CONNECTOR PANEL OVERLYING THE BACK SIDES OF THE OVERLAPPING MAIN PANELS OF SAID CARTON UNITS AND THE SECOND CONNECTOR PANEL HAVING TUCK 